Here are some useful tips to help you choose a ripe and sweet melon on your first try!
Considered to be one of the most popular fruits of the summer season, many people especially like cantaloupes because they can be prepared and eaten in various ways (from appetizers to desserts).
Choosing a good cantaloupe is not easy, on the contrary, it requires the knowledge of some useful techniques to check and verify the degree of maturity and ripeness.
However, since we do not want to complicate your existence, we are going to share with you the following suggestions that will allow you to choose a perfect cantaloupe on your first try.
The color should be as natural as possible
USDA photo by Scott Bauer/Wikimedia
Cantaloupes that are completely green can attract our attention for their consistency and compactness, but when we taste them we realize that they are not ripe.
Ideally, the color of the rind should be between a not too intense green and a light beige, in addition, it would be better if there are also some external yellow zones. These color differences indicate that the cantaloupe has received sufficient sunlight.
Check the petiole
As previously mentioned, the consistency and the fragrance of a cantaloupe changes according to its maturation. To check this status, just turn it over and gently press on the opposite side of the petiole. If the area is elastic and not too soft, then its consistency and sweetness will be perfect.
The fragrance
Usually, when a cantaloupe has a sweet and delicate scent - almost a little flowery - it means that it is ripe. However, if you do not smell any kind of odor it is probably not. However, it must be said that if the smell starts to be too sweet, this could also mean that the cantaloupe is too ripe and has deteriorated.
Are you still undecided about which cantaloupe to buy? Here are some other little tips:
- Avoid choosing cantaloupes that have obvious imperfections on the outside;
- Give a delicate tap to the rind with your knuckles, if the cantaloupe makes a dull sound it means that it is ripe, on the contrary, it means that it is unripe;
- If the cantaloupe is heavy, it means that it is rich in pulp and juice.
